The Health-Wealth-Time Triangle
Nicola Newby, MCR, CGMA recently took voluntary redundancy after 25 years at GSK in a variety of positions including director level operations management and co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI). She is now exploring the question of “what’s next?” in her career. I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicola on the Women in STEM Career & Confidence podcast, where we discussed an intriguing concept: the Health-Wealth-Time Triangle.
She explains that, if you’re fortunate, you might enjoy good health into old age. Wealth often accumulates as you grow older, and time is most abundant in your younger and later years—but far scarcer in the middle of life.
Here’s how the triangle typically plays out:
Early career phase: If you’re lucky, you’ll have your health and plenty of time, but likely little money.
Mid-career phase: Assuming good fortune, you’ll still have your health and will be building wealth. However, much of it will be spent on living expenses, childcare (if applicable), and perhaps a mortgage. This is also the stage where time feels most limited.
Retirement phase: At this point, you’ll hopefully have more time and some wealth, but health may start to decline.
The reality is, there aren’t many phases in life when your triangle achieves perfect symmetry.
Nicola shared how her redundancy gave her a unique opportunity to find balance. She now has a financial buffer, good health, and the gift of time. While she still has parenting responsibilities, this newfound flexibility has allowed her to be present for her family in ways she couldn’t before.
For example, when her son recently had an appendectomy, she wasn’t juggling work calls and caring for him in snatched moments. Instead, she had the time to sit and watch a film with him—something he thoroughly enjoyed. With her children’s two-week holiday last October, Nicola planned to take time off and go away with them. And at Christmas, she was looking forward to fully embracing the season—decorating, baking, and enjoying time with her family.
Nicola emphasised how important it is to cherish the moments when your health-wealth-time triangle is in harmony.
Top Tips for Your Pots
Dividing your finances into different “pots” to help you make the most of your triangle. Here are some examples:
Essentials Pot: Allocate money for necessities like bills, groceries, and day-to-day living.
Future Pot: Save consistently for long-term goals, such as retirement or significant life events.
Safety Pot: Build an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses and give yourself peace of mind.
Fun/Joy Pot: Set aside money for guilt-free spending on things that bring you happiness—be it a holiday, a new hobby, or simply treating yourself.
By intentionally managing these pots, you can strike a balance between planning for the future and enjoying the present moment.
Remember, nothing in life is guaranteed. Enjoy your triangle now, and make the most of those rare moments when it’s in perfect symmetry.
As always, my inbox is open. I’m just an email away.
Keep Opening Up,
Hannah
P.S. Catch Nicola’s episode 🎧 iTunes │ Spotify 🎧
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